Predictors of condom use among a sample of male inmates: a social cognitive perspective.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine factors that predict condom self-efficacy among a sample of soon-to-be-released adult male inmates with respect to self-reported HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. Approximately 230 inmates had agreed to enroll in the study. This analysis is based on completed baseline surveys from 187 inmates. Data were collected at baseline (prior to implementing the intervention) on self-reported condom self-efficacy HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. Findings support that, requesting that your partner uses condoms every time they had sex was the strongest indicator of self-reported condom self-efficacy by inmates in the sample (p<0.01). Findings also suggest that engaging in sexual activity after smoking marijuana, limiting the number of sex partners and asking partners' HIV status were significant predictors for the dependent variable of condom self-efficacy (p<.05); engaging in sexual activity after drinking was not (p<0.11). Findings suggest that it may be wise to take a best-practice approach using former inmates as peer educators if health-based interventions are to be delivered to soon-to-be-released adult male inmates.